Automatic water-discharging apparatus for wells.



No. 7l7,l98. Patented Dec. 30, I902. L. F. HOFFMAN. AUTOMATIC WATER DISCHABGING APPARATUS FOR WELLS (No Model.)

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INVENTOR 0Q m ATTORNEYS UNiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LEWIS FRANCIS HOFFMAN, OF OAKLAND CITY, INDIANA.

AUTOMATlG WATER-DISCHARGING APPARATUS FOR WELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,198, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed May 16, 1902. Serial No. 107,544. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS FRANCIS HOFF- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland City, county of Gibson, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Water Discharging Apparatus for Wells, of

which the following is a specification, refercontinuously operative, and adjustable for attachment to any ordinary well-housing, and by its use water from the well maybe supplied without the necessity of directly handling the bucket.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation of the upper part of a well and its housing and having my improved apparatus attached; Fig. 2, a sectional plan View taken on the line 0300 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a front view of the device with its parts in position for discharging water.

In the practice of my invention I employ an ordinary Windlass, as A, pulley B, rope O, and bucket D. The shaft of the Windlass is journaled through the well-housing E and is operated by a crank a, and the pulley B is suspended centrally from the peak of the roof. The bottom of the bucket is supplied with a normally closed valve d, having a downwardly-extended spider-headed stern d,which operates in a manner hereinafter described. Extended at an incline through one side of the housing is a discharge-spout F, which empties into a water-trough F or any other suitable receptacle for catching the water.

Pivotally connected to a transverse rod G by means of the hangers g is a swinging water-chute II, 'which is preferably contracted at its discharge end and which is provided with side walls It and an end wall h. A bail I is pivotally connected to the side walls of the chute H by means of the pivots i. This bail embodies the sides 1;, cross-brace i and the pivoted rod 2, which passes through the free ends of the sides The rod i is provided centrally with an eye 2', through which the rope O freely passes, whereby the bucket may be readily raised and'lowered when the chute is in normal depending position, as shown by full lines, Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As a means for supporting the chute H in inclined position for discharging water, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. l of the drawings, I employ a spring-actuated catch J, which has a shoulderj and which is provided with a knife-joint j whereby the spring J maintains said catch in normal position for supporting the chute. As a means for lifting the chute a knot O or other stop is supplied on the rope 0 immediately above the bail of the bucket D. This knot is of a size too large to pass through the eye t of the rod t whereby upward movement of the bucket automatioally carries the parts into operative position for discharging the water. I

In operation the bucket is lowered and filled in the ordinary manner. Then in its upward movement the knot 0 contacts with the eye i and carries the bail I and its-attached chute II upwardly until the chute rests atone end in the inlet to the spout F and at the other on the shoulderj of the catch J, whereupon it is in proper inclined position for discharging the water from the bucket. bucket is in its extreme upwardposition, the stem d of the valve d is above the bottom of the chute, the valve being closed; but by lowering the bucket until the spider-head of the valve-stem rests upon the chute-bottom the valve automatically opens and allows the water to discharge freely from the opening in the bottom of the bucket. Having discharged the water, it is simply necessary to pull back the catch J and allow the chute to swing by gravity into its normal position, whereupon the operation of lowering and raising the bucket is repeated.

I do not confine myself to the exact details of construction and design of the parts as When the to said rope and moving in said well, a stop upon said rope above said bucket, and a discharge-spout in said housing, of a transverse rod secured in said housing, a water-chute and hangers pivotally connecting said chute with said rod, so that said chute may be brought into position to discharge into said spout, a bail formed with an eye, pivoted to said chute arranged to be lifted by said rope when the said stop comes into contact with the lower surface of said eye and to lift the said chute into position for receiving Water from said bucket, a latch formed of two sections, a knife-joint connecting said sections together, one of said sections being attached to said housing, and the other being formed with a shoulder, and adapted and arranged to hold said chute in position, a spring actuating said last-named section, and means for discharging Water from said bucket into said chute.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of March, 1902.

LEWIS FRANCIS HOFFMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN ABREHAN LINCOLN CRAWFORD, CHRISTOPHER PESSEL. 

